“Camp pass” is what our original guide called the confirmation for an overnight stay. The useful thing to know is that you’re reserving a particular hut or campsite for a particular night. Choosing a tent spot is only one part of the job; it also has to fit your route, tide crossings and transport.

First: which kind of pass do you need?

This guide is about booking Abel Tasman Coast Track accommodation. It is different from buying DOC’s general Campsite Pass: individual Coast Track listings, including Bark Bay, state that the Campsite Pass cannot be used there. Don’t buy a general pass expecting it to cover these overnight stays.

A hut booking and a campsite booking are different choices, even when they share a bay name. If you want a bunk, select the hut. If you’re carrying a tent, select the campsite. Use our campsites and huts guide to compare the practical options first.

01 / Make the route work before you pay

Write down the date and location for each night, how you will reach it and how you will leave. Include the time needed for your briefing, packing, walking, paddling and transfers. Confirm the necessary kayak and transport arrangements before committing to accommodation that depends on them.

Kahu’s freedom-kayak limit is Shag Harbour, with no overnight kayak camping north of Onetahuti. If you plan to continue on foot, agree the kayak handover and onward arrangements first. Check tides and daylight before reserving nights around Awaroa’s compulsory crossing.

02 / Open the official DOC listing

Begin at DOC’s Abel Tasman Coast Track page and follow its accommodation booking link. The DOC booking service is where you check availability and make the reservation. Screen labels may change; follow the current service rather than an old screenshot.

Check every night for your whole group. A space on the first night does not establish that the following campsite, hut or transport will be available. If one stop is full, revise the route as a whole. Don’t substitute a bay unless the changed walking or paddling day is realistic for everyone.

Check lookalike choices carefully. Tōtaranui’s main campground and its separate Great Walk campsite serve different stays. Mosquito Bay requires private boat access and has no track or water-taxi service, so it must not be booked as a walking stop.

03 / Add the right people & dates

Create or sign into your own DOC booking account when prompted and enter the required party details. Check the arrival date for each overnight stop, the number of people and the accommodation type. Follow the current booking form for age and residency information and any proof DOC requires.

For a group, agree who is making the booking and keep everyone’s details consistent with the actual travellers. Infants or children still need to be included as required by the booking service; don’t assume that no charge means no reservation is needed.

04 / Review the complete itinerary & pay DOC

  • Read the exact hut or campsite name, arrival date and number of nights for every stop.
  • Check that every member of the group has the correct place on each night.
  • Review the current price, booking conditions, cancellation terms and any relevant alerts before paying.
  • Confirm kayak hire and transport separately. Paying DOC does not reserve a kayak or a water-taxi seat.

Complete the reservation through DOC’s service and check for confirmation. An availability search, a saved plan or a payment screen is not the confirmation you need to carry. If the booking status is unclear, resolve it through DOC before making further assumptions.

05 / Save the confirmation before you go

Check the confirmation against your plan as soon as you receive it. Keep the booking reference and the details showing your party, dates and named overnight stops available to show a warden. Save an offline copy and carry a paper copy as a practical backup.

The old park Wi-Fi network has been decommissioned, according to Project Janszoon’s current visitor information. Don’t wait until you reach a hut to retrieve the email. Keep transport contacts and your agreed route accessible too.

If plans change, change the bookings too

Use DOC’s current booking-management instructions and terms for amendments or cancellations. Then check the effect on kayak hire, pickups and every later night. Changing one reservation does not automatically update the others.

Need a hand choosing a sensible route before you book? Talk to the Kahu crew with your dates, group and preferred trip style. We can help with the planning; your final DOC accommodation reservation and confirmation are managed through DOC.

Reviewed 20 October 2026 using DOC’s Coast Track and individual accommodation listings, public booking-service guidance and Project Janszoon’s connectivity update. No reservation, payment or account change was made. Prices, cancellation conditions and booking-screen steps are left with DOC so this guide does not preserve obsolete checkout details.